Recent Monaco Grand Prix Winners

2009: Jensen Button (Brawn)

2008: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes)
2007: Fernando Alonso (McLaren Mercedes)
2006: Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2005: Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren Mercedes)
2004: Jarno Trulli (Renault)

The Race

The initial Monaco Grand Prix (pre-Formula 1) took place in 1929. Anthony Noghès, through the Automobile Club de Monaco, organised this maiden event. William Grover-Williams won the race driving a Bugatti. This first race was part of the pre-Second World War European Championship.

In 1946, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) defined a new premier-racing category. This new racing category was Formula 1. A Monaco Grand Prix ran to this formula in 1948 and the popularity of the event was shown by a good number of Monaco Grand Prix tickets sold. Future world champion Nino Farina won this race in a Maserati 4CLT. Organisers cancelled the 1949 race because of the death of Prince Louis II.

The race received inclusion in the new Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship in 1950. The practice session for the race takes place on the Thursday preceding the race instead of Friday. This facilitates the streets opening to the public again on the Friday. Over the years, this race has proved a supreme test of driver's skill and daring. It remains the signature event of the Formula 1 racing season each year and an industry has built up around Monaco Grand Prix hospitality.

The Circuit

The Monaco F1 circuit consists of narrow streets, which climb, descend and require utmost driver accuracy. The course also has a tunnel that racers must enter, negotiate and exit; all the while adjusting their eyes to darkness and abruptly to daylight again.

Tight turns are the order of the day as well. The race is 78 laps on a course that is 3.340 kilometers or 2.075 miles in length. The race distance is 260.520 kilometers (roughly 157 miles). The circuit includes the city streets of Monte Carlo close to Casino Square and La Condamine, including the world-famous Monaco harbour

The Drivers

Drivers extraordinaire have graced the Monaco Grand Prix since its beginning. Monaco itself has produced three native Formula 1 drivers. These were Louis Chiron, André Testut, and Olivier Beretta.

Top winners at the Monaco F1 include Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna with six victories, British driver Graham Hill and German driver Michael Schumacher with five wins each. France's Alain Prost garnered four first-pace finishes. Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart of Britain secured three victories each.

McLaren, Ferrari and Lotus have the most Monaco F1 constructor wins, with 15, 9 and 7 respectively.

When

Following are the future dates - the Monaco Grand Prix 2010 is May 14-16 - other years are:

May 26 to 29, 2011
May 24 to 27, 2012
May 23 to 26, 2013
May 22 to 25, 2014

Monaco Grand Prix: Did You Know?

That the best sections for viewing the race are A1, A4, V, Z1 and Z2, worth considering when ordering your tickets and Monaco Grand Prix hospitality packages.

That many Monaco residents rent out their terraces for the event to offer prime viewing spots for race fans? Your travel agent will have more information about this.

That hotel rooms are highly sought after for the Monaco F1. It's best to reserve well in advance, and if that is not feasible, plan to stay in Menton, Nice or other nearby towns. You can then take a train or a bus into Monaco for the race.

Several Grand Prix tour operators book reservations for the event? Check them out on the Web under Monaco Grand Prix hospitality packages.

If you're driving into Monaco during Grand Prix time it's a sure recipe for short tempers! Access is very restricted and parking is non-existent during the race weekend in Monaco. Alternative methods of transportation are necessary for having a stress-free time.

The average temperature in Monaco for May, when the race runs, is 68F, and the Principality of Monaco has a mild climate, with over 300 days of sunshine per year.

Two drivers have crashed and ended up in the harbour? One of them, Alberto Ascari, in 1955, went into the harbour after missing a chicane.

When Graham Hill of Britain won the Monaco F1 race five times in the 1960s, he earned the nickname 'King of Monaco' and 'Mr Monaco' for his superb driving efforts.

A day of premier racing in a royal setting is available for race aficionados and holidaymakers seeking a unique travel experience. The Monaco F1 race is an event that appeals to both groups; it combines elegant social events with precision racing in a graceful manner befitting its setting, and several companies offer Monaco Grand Prix tickets.

Race week in Monaco is unlike race week anywhere else. The Monaco Grand Prix carries its tradition proudly, as does this lovely Principality by the Mediterranean.

Whether you're booking travel independently or using a company that offers Monaco Grand Prix hospitality, we hope you have a good time.

BBC F1 Coverage

In the UK the live televison rights for F1, including of course for the Monaco Grand Prix, has returned to the BBC after a few years at ITV.

Many F1 fans are delighted at the return, not only because the BBC F1 coverage is superior but because unlike ITV’s Formula 1 coverage there are no advertisement breaks during the race.

BBC F1 coverage is well promoted and a few years of declining televion audiences the figures are up, and will bring renewed interest for the Monaco F1 with the BBC providing the live coverage.

Speed, Skill, and Seaside Splendor at the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix

Fine weather and fast drivers were the order of the day on Sunday May 24, 2009 for the 67th Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco. Racing legends and celebrities galore took in the atmosphere at the Circuit de Monaco at Monte Carlo.

In fact, approximately 200,000 racing fans descended on this lovely Principality nestled between the Alps and the Mediterranean. Attendees included Grand Prix driving alumni such as Mika Hakkinen, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Keke Rosberg, and Jacques Villeneuve.

This year's race, run under sunny skies, displayed the colors of the "Peace and Sport, L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport" initiative. This international initiative promotes sport as an instrument of peace and social stability around the globe.

Under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert II, and based in the Principality of Monaco, Peace and Sport works to unite divided communities. Peace and Sport intervenes in areas suffering the consequences of post-conflict, extreme poverty, or lack of social cohesion. For the Monaco Grand Prix, the Peace and Sport's banner ran across Boulevard Albert I on the racecourse.

The Monaco Grand Prix began on Thursday, May 21, with two practice sessions on the streets of Monte Carlo. The streets reopened to the public for Friday. However, they became a racecourse once again on Saturday with the running of a third practice session in the morning. Qualifying subsequently followed, with Jenson Button securing the pole position for the Sunday race.

When it comes to Grand Prix races, there's no more picturesque setting for a race than the Monaco circuit. It's the last true "street course" in Formula 1 racing. Spectators are right on top of the action; watching from harbor yachts, balconies that hover over the circuit, or from close vantage points placed at strategic street locations.

The Circuit de Monaco is 78 laps on a course that is 3.340 kilometers or 2.075 miles in length. With a race distance of 260.520 kilometers, the circuit includes the city streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine. The course consists of narrow winding streets, tight hairpin turns, a tunnel, and the world-famous harbor stretch. The Monaco track demands precision driving and intense concentration; all combined with steely nerves.

The race began well for 29 year-old Jenson Button of Britain. He took control of the lead from his pole position immediately. He eased away from his Brawn-Mercedes teammate Rubens Barrichello. In turn, Barrichello fought hard and stayed ahead of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, whom he passed as they approached the first corner. Barrichello only lost his leads briefly during his required pit stops. Barrichello began the race in third spot on the grid.

Throughout the race, the two Brawn-Mercedes cars never really received any sort of challenge. Sebastien Buemi of team Toro Rosso ran into Nelson Piquet Jr. on lap 10 at the Sainte Devote section of the track. Sebastian Vettel later ran into the barriers there as well. In fact, Vettel shredded his tires in the early laps of the race.

Lewis Hamilton racked his car into a wall during qualifying which hurt him for the ensuing race. He received a five-place grid penalty as the impact damaged his gearbox, so consequently he began further back. He then brushed BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld on lap 10. This damaged his front wing and caused under-steer on his car. Hamilton fought valiantly but finished the race in twelfth spot.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa received warning from FIA race stewards for crossing the chicane twice during the race. This occurred at the Swimming Pool Complex section of the course. This section is where Heikki Kovalainen crashed later on in the race. Kazuki Nakajima of the Williams team had the misfortune of crashing out of the race on the last lap. In addition, Robert Kubica of BMW Sauber left the race with brake problems.

Jenson Button drove flawlessly. He led from start to finish, and with Barrichello coming in second, it was the third one-two placing of the year for the Brawn-Mercedes team. For Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen's third place finish was their first podium placing of 2009. Felipe Massa battled Mark Webber of Red Bull hard and ended up in fourth position ahead of Webber. Webber's fifth place finish was respectable considering he began the day eighth on the grid.

The Monaco Grand Prix has a storied past. First run in 1929, William Grover-Williams won the race driving a Bugatti. A Monaco Grand Prix ran to a Formula 1 specification in 1948. Nino Farina won the race in a Maserati 4CLT. Organizers cancelled the 1949 race because of the death of Prince Louis II. The race received inclusion in the new Formula 1 World Drivers' Championship in 1950. It's been a thrilling ride each year since.

The elite of Formula 1's past are part of the rich history of this race. Top winners at the Monaco Grand Prix include Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna with his six victories. British driver Graham Hill and German driver Michael Schumacher each garnered five first-place finishes. France's Alain Prost won four times, while Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart, both of Britain, secured three victories each.

For Jenson Button, who has an apartment in Monaco, it was his fifth victory in six races this season. On hand to witness this premier accomplishment were his girlfriend, his parents, and his sister. Jenson Button's father admitted to being extremely nervous, finding it hard to watch Jenson in all laps of the race.

Button's race time was 1:40:44.282. He kept his lead over Barrichello comfortable at fifteen seconds for most of the race. The fastest lap of the race belonged to Felipe Massa who clocked in at 1:15:154 on lap 50. The course lap record belongs to Michael Schumacher who had a 1:14.439 lap time in 2004.

Button finished seven seconds ahead of Barrichello at the end. He slowed to avoid traffic congestion and other possible difficulties. This was with those at the back of the pack whom he had come up from behind on towards the end of the race. Jenson Button became the first British driver since 1973 to win the Monaco Grand Prix from the pole position. The last British driver to do this was Jackie Stewart.

One important development in the race, aside from the Brawn dominance, was Ferrari's improvement. They are showing promise for the rest of the Formula 1 season. Ferrari matched and even surpassed Button's pace over the second part of the race.

Jenson Button had his own "foot race" at the end of the Grand Prix. He parked too far back in the pit lane section, instead of on the main straightaway. He hopped from his car and had to jog a ways down the pit straightaway. This was so he could reach the area where the victors' ceremonies took place.

It was speed, skill, and seaside splendor in Monaco, for the regal Monaco Grand Prix. It's not every race that the winner gets to dine with House of Grimaldi royalty once the driving gloves are off. Jenson Button had the hon6uor of dining with Prince Albert at the Royal Ball; traditionally held after each year's race. It's another indication of the Monaco Grand Prix's uniqueness as the most prestigious event on the Formula 1 calendar.

We look forward to the 2010 Monaco Grand Prix. For tickets and other information for the Monaco Grand 2010 look for the details further up the page.

Great Expedia Deals: